5 Spots to get your bread and pastry fix

Running a bakery is a labour of love. The early starts, the long hours waiting for doughs to prove, the meticulous attention to detail required – it’s not something for the half-committed. But the payoff is a shop filled with fresh breads and pastries and a loyal following of customers who will happily wait in a line to get their favourite treats. And, of course, the payoff for customers doesn’t need to be explained.

In South Africa, there’s no shortage of places to visit to get your fix of baked goods. From pasteis de nata and pains au chocolat to doughnuts, artisanal breads and tarts, the opportunities are endless. Here are five spots around the country that chefs in the know recommend visiting.

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The Glenwood Bakery
Morningside, Durban
This popular spot celebrates the art of bread making. Their breads are hand formed, slow fermented and baked in an earth oven, and sourdough is their focus. But visitors would be remiss to overlook the pastries on offer. From financiers and chocolate brownies to biscuits, cakes and croissant-based pastries, there is plenty to choose from. And they do ice cream – have it to sit down or take a tub home with you.

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Hoghouse Brewing Company
Ndabeni, Cape Town
Found on a busy road in Cape Town’s suburb of Ndabeni, Hoghouse is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. Step inside and you’ll be greeted by the hum of happy diners, attentive servers and hard-at-work kitchen staff. An all-rounder of note, this spot is well known for its pasteis de nata and array of pastries, as well as its well-curated breakfast and lunch menus.

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Lucky Bread Company, Brooklyn Mall
Nieuw Muckleneuk, Pretoria
As the name suggests, Lucky Bread Company’s specialty is bread, and you’ll be hard-pressed to choose between the buttery croissants, warm wood-fired loaves and flaky pastries demanding your attention. You’ll also find a comprehensive breakfast and lunch menu, including salads, bagels, hot-press sandwiches and waffles. It’s a neighbourhood gem that will definitely require repeat visits.

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Rosemead Artisan Bakery & Café
Yzerfontein
Take a trip up the West Coast and make your way to this bakery in Yzerfontein for a delicious selection of treats. You’ll have to join the queue though – it’s super popular, and if you want to sit, you might have to book ahead. Add their leavened sourdough to the list of things to try, as well as the croissants and pasteis de nata. And don’t miss out on the cinnamon buns and pains au chocolat!

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île de Païn
Thesen Island, Knysna
The OG of bakeries, this award-winning Knysna spot has earned a reputation that precedes it, and rightly so. The breads – baked in a wood-fired oven – are the headline act, with pastries that more than hold their own alongside them. On a good-weather day, the terrace is the place to sit and take it all in.